Page 33 of Claiming Charlotte

I nodded and handed her a helmet, helping her secure the strap under her chin before lifting her onto the backseat. I climbed on after her and started it up.

“Hang on for me. It’s a long ride,” I said.

Charlotte

My thighs were sore and stiff from squeezing onto the bike for hours. The sun was meeting the horizon in an array of purples and oranges making for a beautiful view. I didn’t know how much longer I could hold on. How the hell do bikers do this on the daily? I thought, gritting my teeth and squeezing harder as we rounded a curve. I could ride for a good while, but not hours.

The road weaved through trees covered in lush green foliage, and it seemed to be narrowing the further along the road we went. The forest was getting thicker, and the hilly road was lulling me to sleep. Leaning my helmeted head against Roe’s shoulder my eyes closed momentarily, letting myself focus on the vibrations of the bike beneath me. I was so tired from riding the whole day with only two short stops. I needed to get off, but exhaustion kept my mouth closed.

Just before sleep overcame my senses, the gentle motion of the bike coming to a complete stop woke me, and Roe’s hand found my thigh.

“Don’t fall asleep, Princess. It’s dangerous,” he said, climbing off the bike.

I stretched and let Roe hoist me off the seat. My legs felt like jelly, and I knew I’d be feeling it worse by morning, but it was completely worth it.

“Where are we?” I asked, glancing around.

We were surrounded by trees and thick underbrush, but the clearing we’d stopped in also had a small cabin. It was a cozy, beautiful sight, but I still wasn’t sure what Rowan had planned.

“This is the cabin my mom used to take me to when I was younger. It was my grandparents; she would tell me so many stories of her childhood here. When they passed, they wanted her to have it. Whenever she wanted to get away from the pace of life, she’d bring me here,” He said, giving a sorrowful gaze to the little wooden house.

“It’s so peaceful,” I said, following Roe to the door.

He placed his helmet on a small table just inside the door and pulled me inside after him. I followed suit, ditching my helmet and taking a moment to snoop around. It was a quaint cabin, with a living room, kitchen, dining table, and a single bedroom off the main space.

Roe’s arms circled around me and his lips traced the outside of my ear. “I wanted to bring you here to get you away from the stress for a few days. We can leave if you want, but I wanted to show you something that’s as beautiful as you are,” he crooned.

I couldn’t stifle my smile. “You’re such a romantic, Roe,” I said. “We can stay.”

“I’ll bring our bags in,” he said, releasing me and disappearing out the door.

I walked around the small couch and sat down, taking note of the few pictures hanging on the walls of a younger Roe with his mother. Picking up a framed photo from the coffee table, I held it in my hands. It was a picture of them standing in front of the very cabin we were at.

They both looked so carefree, and I could see the bond they had with each other. Wow, it must have really hurt when she died, I thought, wiping a tear from my cheek that appeared suddenly. The whole cabin was filled with memories of Rowan and his mother, memories of his childhood hidden in plain sight for me to see.

I heard the door open and turned to Rowan, his silhouette darkened by the setting sun outside. He clambered through the door and dropped the bags in a heap, and topped it with a wooden frame. I stood and looked at it. My easel.

“You brought my paints?” I asked, puzzled.

“You took them with you to Hawaii, so I figured it was an essential for you,” he said, shutting the door. “Besides, the view out the back door is beautiful, and I knew you’d want to capture it forever.”

It was too much, but I was grateful for his thoughtfulness. “Roe, you did this all for me?” I asked bewildered.

He did everything possible to ensure we could just be…normal for a few days. Why did I ever think this man would hurt me? I felt terrible for the way I’d treated him. I’d been cautious around him, but it hit me hard when I realized I was only pushing him away. I needed to push my fear aside and give him a chance. After all, he’s the one who saved me— multiple times. Our eyes met and I found he was already staring at me.

His eyes held a childish glint and I smiled walking into his embrace. It was my favorite part of him, even in the most serious situation; I could look into his eyes and see the same sparkle. He immediately wrapped his arms around me and I was engulfed in his scent. It felt foreign and sweet, but I needed it;? I needed him. I clung to him, perhaps too tightly, and wanted the moment to last forever.

“I’m sorry for everything, Roe. You don’t deserve this,” I whispered.

He pulled back and stared at me. “For you, I’d do anything. I love you,” he said, kissing me softly on the lips.

I missed the feel of his mouth on mine, and though short, it gave me the first glimmer of hope I’d had since everything happened.

“Can we go lay down? I’m tired,” I asked.

“Sure. Why don’t you go get in bed, and I’ll be along shortly. I just want to put a few things away while we’re here,” he said, releasing me.

Snuggling up with him and letting him touch me seemed like a daunting task, but I felt I was ready. Maybe not for sex, but I longed to feel his arms around me again. I hastened through getting ready for bed and climbed under the covers just in time for Roe to come in and get ready himself.

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